Abstract: The release and transdermal behavior of fennel oil patch in vitro was studied in this experiment. The fennel oil solubility in different release medium was measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC),30% PEG400-saline was selected as the release medium which met sink conditions. The in vitro release of different dilutes fennel oil patch was studied according to the requirement of Chinese Pharmacopeia,the 24 h cumulative amount of release followed as the order of Transcutol P > Ceraphyl 230 > O.D.O > Blank control > IPM. The results showed that different diluents on patch had a significant effect on release. Transcutol P was release best, in vitro release percentage content was 64.16% in 24 h,the release mechanism coincided with the Higuchi equation,the release rate was 1762.2 μg/cm²·h². Hence,Transcutol P was chosen as diluents. The selected diluent patch was used to study the transdermal behavior in vitro of the abdominal skin of rats and minipigs. The transdermal process coincided with zero-order kinetics equation,permeation rate was 63.943μg/cm²·h and 6.134 μg/cm²·h, respectively. The result suggested that different skin have an effect on permeation rate.

Key words: fennel oil, patch, in vitro release, transdermal